Brocker.Org: Committee of MPs: Let EU students have free movement in the UK after Brexit

LONDON – The government must grant European students the right of
free movement in the UK for the country to remain a “global
leader,” a committee of MPs said.

The House of Commons education committee, a cross-party group,
said restrictions on incoming students could see the UK lose out.

“We believe the best model for EU students is to retain a
reciprocal open approach with light touch controls, such as
visa-free access, which would enable preservation of a system
closely resembling freedom of movement,”
the committee said in a report published on Tuesday.

“We recommend the Government takes this open approach with all
international students if it is serious in its desire for the UK
to remain a global leader in higher education,” the MPs said,
adding that students should be removed from the net migration
target.

“The Government’s refusal to do so is putting at risk the higher
education sector’s share of the international student
market.”

University staff should also be guaranteed rights to reside in
the UK, or the country’s universities would lose out to
competitors when trying to attract top professors to Britain.

“We caution that a delay in confirming these rights will only
intensify the current uncertainty for universities, and likely
lead to a significant ‘brain drain’ in talented staff,” the
committee said. “The Government must be prepared to unilaterally
agree the rights of EU nationals before the end of 2017 if a
reciprocal deal is not agreed before then.”

Students from the European Union appear to have been put off from
studying in the UK following last year’s Brexit vote.

The number of applications to UK universities from students in
the European Union has shrunk by 7% in the wake of the Brexit
vote,
according to figures from UCAS. EU applications are down to
42,070 from 45,220 the year before.

The number of applicants from other overseas countries held
steady at 52,630, around 70 more than 2016.

Applications to UK universities overall fell by 5% to a total of
469,490. There was a slump in English students applying for
university, with 6% fewer applications in 2016. University
applications fell by 5% in Northern Ireland, 2% in Scotland, and
7% in Wales.